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I wanted to start today's conversation by defining what turns a sports injury into a stupid sports injury. Turns out I'm not smart enough to do that, so I'll get around it the same way Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart did when he couldn't define "pornography." Said Potter: "I know it when I see it." Works for me. I know a stupid sports injury when I see it — such as last Sunday when Chicago Bears defensive tackle Lamarr Houston sacked the immortal New England quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo near the end of a blowout Bears' loss and tore his ACL by jumping in pointless celebration. He gets the rest of this season — and perhaps the...

Related "Matt Cain" Articles

I wanted to start today's conversation by defining what turns a sports injury into a stupid sports injury. Turns out I'm not smart enough to do that, so I'll get around it the same way Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart did when he couldn't define...

Even before Max Scherzer, Bryce Harper and the rest of the ramped-up Washington Nationals hit the field for their first full-squad workout at spring training, they got the message. There it was, printed across the top of a practice schedule posted in...

A look at what's happening around spring training in Florida and Arizona today: ___ BIG SALE White Sox ace Chris Sale, who broke a bone in his right foot last month, is scheduled for a bullpen session. The left-hander is expected to miss the start of...

Cliff Lee's elbow. Marcus Stroman's knee. Lance Lynn's hip. Mike Minor's shoulder. It's been a tough week for some of baseball's best starters and there's a long way to go before opening day. Lee is trying to pitch for Philadelphia despite an injury...

A look at the highlights of what's happening all around spring training in Florida and Arizona today: ___ ON THE MEND San Francisco pitcher Matt Cain makes his spring training debut against the Dodgers in Scottsdale, Arizona. Coming back from ankle and...

— As recently as 2008 Dan Haren threw 96 mph. He no longer has that in his back pocket, but what he does have continues to do the job.
Like just about every other guy who makes his living 60-feet, 6-inches from home plate, Haren has lost velocity through...

World Series MVP Madison Bumgarner was roughed up in his exhibition debut, and Marcus Semien hit a pair of home runs as the Oakland Athletics opened their new spring training home by beating the champion San Francisco Giants 9-4 Tuesday. Bumgarner gave up...

Before the San Francisco Giants enjoyed their third parade in five years, before a Chevrolet executive memorably advised World Series most valuable player Madison Bumgarner he had won a truck equipped with "technology and stuff," before the...

Max Scherzer and Jon Lester might as well have neon-green dollar signs stamped all over their uniforms and caps when spring training opens next week.
Their careers were redefined this offseason when they joined baseball's elite echelon of $100 million...

SAN FRANCISCO — Free agent right-hander Ryan Vogelsong reached agreement Friday on a $4 million, one-year deal to stay with the San Francisco Giants.
Vogelsong, a former Kutztown University and Iron Pigs pitcher, passed a physical and reached the deal...

Hundreds of front-office executives, managers, coaches and scouts will descend upon San Diego this week for Major League Baseball's annual winter meetings, all with the singular purpose of molding their teams into World Series contenders.
But what does a...

Jon Lester will turn 36 before the final year of a six-year contract that several suitors reportedly are offering.
At that same age, Barry Zito is temporarily finished after failing to fulfill a lucrative seven-year contract in 2013. And at 34, CC...

Judging from the various degrees of interest, the only stress free agent left-hander Jon Lester will encounter will be saying ‘’no thanks’’ to the teams he’ll turn down.
The interest in Lester, 30, has swelled and become more public in recent days with...

SAN FRANCISCO — Boston bills Fenway Park as the "most beloved ballpark in baseball" while the Cubs marketed Wrigley Field this year as the "party of the century."
But if you're looking for a ballpark that actually helps its team win...

PHOENIX — After grooming Ben Cherington replace him eventually with the Red Sox, Cubs President Theo Epstein goes head-to-head against his one-time protege for the first time since both interviewed Dale Sveum for their manager openings three years ago.
...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — When Giants reliever Hunter Strickland began jawing at catcher Salvador Perez in the sixth inning of Game 2 of the World Series on Wednesday night, the Royals knew they finally had arrived.
Up until then, they were just the scrappy,...

The Kansas City Royals might have skipped the World Series for three decades, but they have an identity now. Ladies and gentlemen, the Royals Way: a lockdown bullpen, suffocating defense and speed to kill.
The Oakland Athletics have a way, the...

Juan Uribe just missed a cycle and drove in seven runs against his former team, and the Dodgers routed the San Francisco Giants, 10-2, in the series opener between the two rivals Friday night at AT&T Park.
It was the 11th win in 13 games for the...

Whether by injury or ineffectiveness, nearly all fantasy owners have gaps in their lineups that need to be plugged. Staff writer Tim Hubbard looks at a few players who can be cheap solutions.
Jenrry Mejia
New York Mets | SP
Talk about taking a flier,...

And in today’s edition of how the Dodgers can really tick off Australia, it appears they are seriously considering not starting star left-hander Clayton Kershaw in their two games to open the season in Sydney.
Manager Don Mattingly has gone from...